The Right Travel Company To The Right Vacation

You can count on spending a good deal of time and attending to a long list of details when you are planning any vacation. Besides the fact that you need to book flights or other transportation, and find room to pack all those "must-have" items, you need to figure out exactly what you're going to do on that perfect vacation.

That's where travel companies come into play. Travel companies can arrange all the details and get you to the right destination for the right price based on the specific details you give them. Naturally, doing the usual "comparison shopping" research before choosing a travel agent or company can pay off for you in a big way.

Using a travel agent or firm can even eliminate the hassle of deciding where to go if you can't make up your mind. Why not let an expert put the time into finding the right location by researching different places, as well as helping you to get the best deals that you might not know how to make for yourself? Due to the fact that they do this for a living, good travel agents have contacts with other people in the same industry all over the world.

Just their professional planning skills alone make agents valuable, and their experience and contacts help them get lower prices than you could yourself. They can save you money on hotels, get special tour deals, arrange for vegetarian and other special menus, and get you where you're going with cheaper flights and even discount cruises. Experience travel planners know how to get first-rate travel, accommodations and service at a discount because it is their job to do so. They also know that establishing a good relationship with you, the customer, can bring them additional business in the future, from referrals as well as your own next vacation.

It's always best not to go for the first travel company that you come across. Do your homework on this to find out if the company comes recommended by others that have used them before. Ask around and check with friends and family that might have used a particular travel agent or company, and read the travel section of a big-city newspaper to find any possible tips or suggestions.

The Internet is also a great tool to use when searching for a travel company, of course. Make sure to check in with the various travel forums and websites and keep an eye out for satisfied customers talking about the best agents and firms. It is important to establish a good working relationship quickly, and discuss your plans with someone that is easy to talk to. Communication is key and you must ensure that whoever helps you plan your trip understands what your goals (and dreams) are. When you find such a person and establish a candid relationship, you may just have found someone to help you again and again over the years.

When looking for a travel company or agent it is a good idea to search for an American Society of Travel Agents ASTA) member. This is an organization that is, in fact, a sort of cooperative "network" of travel-related businesses from all parts of the country and all niches of the travel industry. It includes not only agents and brokers, but airlines, cruise lines, hotels and concierge (personal service) firms. ASTA members can handle your vacation with a quality and professionalism that is unsurpassed. Relying on one of these professionals is a great way to reassure yourself that your vacation will go smoothly, and the ASTA connection ensures a certain level of expertise (and ethics). The ASTA will also respond quickly to any complaints about its members, so you have protection there, as well.

Remember, it is not just "okay," but expected, for you to have questions. After all, it's your money and vacation that are at risk. If you have found the right travel company, they will have all the right answers for you or know how to get them. Some companies even offer you the opportunity to speak with some of their past customers, whose experiences can give you valuable insight as to what you can expect with the firm.

Your travel company should always invest its full attention to the details of planning the right vacation for you and your family. Though the travel company should, first and foremost, attend to the numerous details of transportation and lodging traveling, you should always discuss the "little things" about the vacation you're planning. Anyone helping you plan a "dream getaway" will need to know exactly what you like and what you don't, and no issue is too small to mention. This kind of open and honest communication not only makes the planning a good experience, but will likely result in a vacation that is cost-effective, custom-tailored to your exact needs - and memorable, as well.

Float Market: One of Unique Place

Oke... Now i want invite you for visiting Float Market (in Indonesia = Pasar Terapung) which be tourist favorite place. Hmm it's a like traditional market but all acitivity do on the kelotoks (small boat) and jukung (kano).

Yeah unique i think. If you want shopping and order something, seller will give good which oredered by you using nailed stick. Hehehehe

Hmm... you must remember if you want visit "Pasar Terapung", you have to come before 09.00 Wite.

Loksado: Unique Place on South Borneo

If you visiting South Kalimantan, don't forget for visit Loksado. What is Loksado? Yupz Loksado is subdistrict on Hulu Sungai Selatan District and it's about 175 Km from Banjarmasin.

In here you can visit Dayak people who still live at Longhouse. Beside that you can try bamboo rafting on the Amandit river. Its enjoy and wonderfull trip, you must try it.

The "Kaget" Island On South Kalimantan

The Kaget island was a small island that was located on the middle of Barito River, +/- 1,5 hours with the small boat (kelotok) and 1 hour with used speedboat if departed from centre of the city (Banjarmasin). It's was the place of conservation for Bekantan, the monkey that had the long tail and various birds.

Bekantan was the very shy monkey. It's was the unique fauna and made the Banjarmasin City mascot. If you wanna visiting this island, maybe you can go at 17.00 s/d 18.00 cause at this time, Bekantan and the monkey that had the long tail will go out to looked for food.

Confuse Choose A Travel Agency For Your Holiday?

Travel agencies go beyond just finding plane tickets or booking a cruise. They often serve as the middle person between a traveler and the various services and destinations. It is a myth that booking through an agent will cost more. Travel agencies get their commissions from the various cruise lines, vacation packages, and airlines, not from the customer. This fact can actually save you money.

While it is true that if you simply need a flight from point A to point B, and back, you can probably get that on your own at a reasonable rate. Even if you need a hotel at point B for a few nights, you can negotiate that on your own and get a great rate. But, what if you need more than that? What if you don’t have the time to shop the rates, negotiate, and then compare all the rates? That is where a travel agency can come in and help.

When preparing for a trip, the packing, planning at home and the destination, arranging for coverage at work, and all of the other little details can be daunting. So, if you can get a little help with the travel details, it can be a big help. A travel agency can handle all of these particulars for you.

A travel agency can often pull together the airfare, hotel accommodations, rental car, and maybe even a few meals and event tickets, and put them into a package deal that makes the entire trip much less stressful. Their immense network of connections in various locations and with various services can help make each transition in the trip easier. When it’s done right you should not notice a bump anywhere, just a smooth ride from point A to point B.

The network of resources a travel agent has at their disposal pays off for you in price as well. Because a travel agency has connections with many different services they can find you the best flight, hotel, rental car, etc. for the right price. They spend the time researching all the options so you don’t have to. When they are done, they can put together a package with the best price for each component of the trip. They have leeway in the pricing also, because their commission comes from the companies they sell for, so they can offer a lower cost by cutting their commission slightly. You win with a great price, the airlines and hotels win with people in their beds and seats, and the agency wins with a multi-part sale.

A travel agency can also answer many of the questions that arise before a trip. They can help with travel insurance, inoculation procedures, passport and visa applications, connections at the destination, and even transport from the airport to hotel. They can often answer destination specific questions to help you prepare for the trip, as well, such as climate conditions, crime rate, availability of certain amenities, etc.

Any time you are planning a long, multi-destination trip or specialized trip, a travel agency should be involved. The multi-destination trip can become very confusing, especially if the destinations are international. The various countries are all likely to have their own laws governing travel and a travel agent can help you navigate those laws. They can also help you book the best, most reliable flights to and from the various points.

A traveler going to a difficult country or one where Americans are unpopular should also use a travel agent. Whether the issue is obtaining a Visa or slipping into the country via a small charter service from a friendly country, a knowledgeable agent will be able to help with that. Sometimes flying to a country like Switzerland and then taking a small connecting flight on a European airline will reduce the tension upon entering some countries.

Travelers with special needs or special requests will find more success using an agency, also. If you want to get special rates for age, affiliation, or occupation, you might find it easier with a travel agent. If you need a specific room number in a particular hotel in the city of destination then you might need a travel agent to arrange that for you. If you must follow a specific diet while traveling, a travel agent might be able to recommend eating establishments or the location of specialty food stores. They can also arrange for accommodations on flights.

If you find yourself stranded your agent may be able to redirect you and get you moving again. If a snowstorm in Maine strands you at the airport, they can help to find you accommodations. If your flight out of Cleveland is mysteriously cancelled they can help you get on another plane. If the hotel you were supposed to stay at in Bangkok burned to the ground just before you got there, they can find alternate lodging. Such disasters are rare, but they do happen – and working with a travel agent means that you have an advocate and a helping hand while you are away from home

DELHI-HARIDWAR-DEHRADUN-MUSSOORIE

LAST december I visited delhi, haridwar, dehradun and mussoorie along with my family. as its winter we had ourselves wrapped in heavy wollens. on 25th december we boarded rajdhani from sealdah for delhi.the next day we reached delhi.in delhi we stayed at one of my cousins' place at shankar vihar army campuss[my brother-in-law is the Lt.colonel of Indian Army].it was pleasant to be back in delhi after 14 long years.last time i visited delhi was in 1993 and since then the city had changed a lot with several high rises,magnificient malls,a number of flyovers,smooth roads and the most recent addition the delhi metro.the temperature use to be low in delhi during this time of the year and so we had thick layer of wollens wrapped around us.shankar vihar was a beautiful place with several trees and parks.its just beside the international airport of delhi and thus we got to see a large number of giant aircrafts flying over just above our head.we stayed in delhi for 3 days. on the first day we did little bit of shopping.on the 2nd day i.e. 27th we got ready early in the morning and were out for our sightseeing. my cousin had already reserved bus seats for our sightseeing through rao travels near their place and so we reached the travel agency office within 9 am.the bus was an a.c. volvo one and our journey started around 9.30. our first destination was qutub minar,which was build by qutubuddin aibek.the minar along with the edifices all around had been restored thoroughly.last time i mean in 1993 we had seen the minar in a bad condition.there we also saw the iron pillar erected by chandragupta maurya.its thrilling to see all this historical edifices which make us proud to think of our rich culture.our next destination was lotus temple.it is a place where people from any caste or religion can pray silently in peace. the silent atmoshpere of the place would surely touched pur couls and it soothed our minds a lot.next we went to akshardham temple.lots of construction works can be seen around the temple area as the khel gaon for the commonwealth games 2010 is under construction over there.the temple has a tight ring of security following the terrorist attack in gujrat a few years back.so all the mobile phones and cameras had to be left in the bus.everyone had to go through three rounds of checking before entering the temple. inside the temple one will be mesmerized by the architectural garndeur of the temple. the curvings on the walls and ceiling of the temple r so accurate and perfact that one cant think of. we were all thrilled to see such levels of architectural curvings.the temple had a beautifull courtyard and its a pleasant place to spend some time over there.from akshardham we went to rajghat which is the burial ground of mahatma gandhi.after that we visited india gate. by 2.30 we were taken for lunch at the andhra bhavan. the entire management at andhra bhavan was very good and the thali was also delicious. but the fish item that i ordered was disastrous. its tremendous sour and spicy.after lunch we went for rashtrapati bhavab and parliament house. as no civilians were allowed there without special permission so we had to see the houses from the bus.next destination was laxmi narayan temple or birla temple. after that we went to indira gandhi's house where she used to stay. it had been now converted into a muesum.we got to know several facts and articals used by our former prime minister.from there we headed for trimurti bhavan, another muesum and the house of our 1st prime minister jawaharlal nehru.over there we saw several historical articles and were thrilled. our journey ended at trimutri bhavan and we returned home in the evening.next day that is 28th december we spent the whole day at home.we loitered all around shankar vihar and did a little bit of shopping. by the evening we had our luggages packed and around 8.30 we headed for delhi station for our train to haridwar.

our train to haridwar was mussoorie express scheduled at 22.10 pm. but unfortunately we cant avail a.c. seats so had to travel by sleeper class.we were sad to leave delhi after spending such a wonderful time over there but at the same time we were thrilled by the thought of exploring an unknown place.just after the train started we had our dinner and the entire compartment became dark as everyone went to sleep.unfortunately no one could sleep due to some people who snored throughout the night. it was bitting cold and though we were wrapped with heavy woolens we almost freezed.the cold increased during the morning when the train was running across the foothills of the himalayas through the forests.we tried to look out through the window but found the outside to be wrapped with a thick blanket of fog.the bitting cold made us numb and our legs became senseless.everyone in the compartment had wrapped themselves in heavy wollens like a cocoon. at last around 7 am in the morning we reached haridwar,the great pilgrimage for the hindus.we were excited to have the first glimpse of the himalayas from the station.it seemed that the station is surrounded by mountains.we went outside the station and hired an auto for our hotel mayur located just opposite of mansa pahar, which is a peak on which mansa temple is located.our hotel room was a cosy one and it had an adjacent balcony from where one could get a clear view of mansa temple.after having our breakfast and a brief rest we went out for a stroll to har-ki-pauri, i.e. the banks of the ganges which is considered to be the auspicious pilgrimage of the hindus.har-ki-pauri is a place with several temples with ganges flowing at a tremendous speed just decending from the himalayas into the plains.the sight of the ganges and the temples soothed our souls and we felt very fresh from inside.its was bitting cold but still we spent some time over there.in the afternoon we went to manasa temple, on the top of a mountain about 600 metres in height.one could reach the temple by foot which is quite laborious or by ropeway. we choose to go by ropeway and the journey was quite an exciting one.from the temple we again visited har-ki-pauri to have a glimpse of the evening arati of the ganges at har-ki-pauri. but unfortunately we were late and couldn't view the arati though we floated diyas in the ganges.nextday we got ready early for our sightseeing and reached the busstand in time. the journey commenced just in time and we headed for kankhol.the places to see at kankhol r the ashram of ma anadamoyi and satikund. the journey to kankhol was quite pleasant through the lush greeneries of the foothills of the himalayas with tha ganges flowing just beside. the weather was chilly still we enjoyed thoroughly.we had to leave our shoes in the bus to visit the above mentioned places. the ground was very cold and we had difficulty in walking. at the ashram of anandamoyi ma we saw the famous tree of rudraksh and a glowing diya which is believed to be lighted by ma anandamoyi by herself and is continueing to glow till date.from the ashram we visited satikund a throwing stone distance from the ashram.satikund is a place where according to indian mythology king janak father of sati performed some rituals without inviting his daughter and son-in-law lord mahadev.so feeling insulted sati committed suicide over here.the place also have several temples with ganges flowing beside. after kankhol we headed for rishikesh.the journey to rishikesh was also excillent through the green forests crossing a number of hilly streams, the scenic beauty of outside is awesome.we stopped near the famous laxmanjhulla. its a hanging bridge over the ganges held by strong cables.here one could get a different mood of the ganges, very calm river , not so turbulent like that in haridwar flowing through the lush green mountains,over a stony bed.one could also go for rafting in rishikesh. the beauty of the mountains as well as ganges, the calm nature of the place touched us. the place also houses a number of temples the most notable is the 13storey temple located just infront of the laxmanjhulla. the place around laxmanjhulla is the homeland for several monkeys and langurs and so one must be carefull about one's possessions like cameras, bags etc.we were instructed by our guide to cross the jhulla and go on the other side of the river to have a glimpse of the temples,from laxmanjhulla we went 4 km downstream to a place having another hanging bridge called ramjhulla, a replica of laxmanjhulla. this place contains several hotels , we had our lunch in one of them. ramjhulla like laxmanjhulla is not the house of monkeys and langurs and so we felt safe here. near ramjhulla gita bhavan is located were one could get exotic collection of woolens and saals at a very reasonable price.there are also several ashrams in and around the area. we visited only gita bhavan and did some marketting. we again crossed the ramjhulla and went on the other side of the river from were we had to hire an auto to reach the busstand where our bus had been parked.the parking ground is just beside th river and its a very beautiful place with gita bhavan just on the opposite bank of the river.from rishikesh we started for our return journey to haridwar.near haridwar we stopped for 3 temples but we visited only one as it took lot of time to see that one. the temple houses all the god and goddess of indian mythology.after that we returned to a place near har-ki-pauri to view the aarti. but unfortunately we were late again and missed the aarti.rishikesh is indeed a very beautiful and calm place in the lap of nature and i think to explore around rishikesh one must stay there atleast for a night. next day as we had no where to go around haridwar so we decided to explore all along the market place and ganges throughout the day.we took a stroll along the river,we went to the bronze statue of lord shiva erected near har-ki-pauri and did a lot of marketting. we brought several woolens at a very cheap rate from a shop in the market area.moreover any one who comes to haridwar ise to had lunch and dinner at a famous hotel called dada boudi;r hotel. though the standard is not as good now as it used to be earlier but still all use to gather in dada boudi;r hotel for lunch and dinner. that day we had both our lunch and dinner at dada boudi'r hotel where one could get a meal for 30 rupees only. we also booked a car from an agent beside dada boudi;r hotel to mussoorie for the next day.that evening we went early to har-ki-pauri for the evening aarti and were lucky this time. we got a sit somewhere among the thick crowd and got a better glimpse of the entire incedent. we were thrilled by the ceremony. the entire atmoshpere of the region changed during the aarti,with the ganges dazzling by the lights of the of the diyas.its really an unique experience and i'm really speechless to describe such an incedent.

the next day that is 1st january 2008 we started early for mussoorie.as i told earlier we had hired an ambasador from haridwar and decided to have the local sight scene in and around before reaching mussoorie where we would put up for 2 nights.the first location we went was tapkeshwar temple.the temple contains a shivlingo and its situated beside a hilly stream. it had inheritted its name from the fact that drops of water fall on the head of the shivlingo naturally.but unfortunately we couldn't see any drops of water falling.moreover the entire temple atmoshpere seemed very artificial. we were surprised to see the temple being used as a house by some people. from tapkeshwar we went to sahashra dhara.sahashra dhara use to be a collection of almost hundred waterfalls...but now it has been transformed into an artificial falls with only a few channels...

hello readerz!!

Here r ur virtual travel-mates Bhamuu and Handel re-visiting their tours of India through this blog..we will share our experiences of our Indian travel sprees...though, when asked, most people would reply their ideal travel destinations as places like London or Switzerland..believe me, our very own India doesnt lag behind..with the heavenly beauties of the snow capped Himalayas, who needs the Swiss Alps? with cities like Delhi, Mumbai,Kolkata, who needs New York n London? with beaches like Goa, who needs Miami? India has it all-the snow capped mountains, to the deserts, the mighty rivers to the beautiful lakes and lagoons, the metropolitan cities to the picturesque villages, and to top it all..the culture and history, which are depicted through various monuments, places of historical interests, the palaces...in short..everything....so lets come and explore India!!